The Stinson L-5 was a WWII era observation/liaison aircraft used by the USAAF, the U.S. Army Ground Forces, the USMC(designated OY-1/OY-2), and the RAF (designated Sentinel Mk I/Mk II). The origins of the L-5 can be traced to a aeries of prewar light plane designs that Stinson had developed for the civilian market. After being accepted by the military in early 1942, over 3,590 L-5s had been built by the time production ended in late 1945. The main production variants were the L-5 and L-5B. The L-5B had a wider and deeper rear fuselage section with a rear door that folded down to enable rapid loading of a litter patient or 250 pounds of cargo. L-5s were employed in reconnaissance, search and rescue, aerial photography, forward air control, laying communication wire, spraying pesticides, dropping para-cargo, dropping leaflets, and aerial broadcasting with loudspeakers. In one notable incident, an L-5 transporting Lieutenant General Alexander Patch and piloted by Technical Sergeant Robert Stretton was intercepted by an Me-109 during the Battle of Nuremberg. Stretton used his superior airmanship and the L-5's agility to successfully evade the German fighter.

Sword has released new tool 1/48 kits of a L-5A/OY-1/Sentinel Mk.I (kit # 48015) and an OY-1/OY-2/Sentinal Mk.II (kit# 48016). Note: Sword's L-5A designation is in error. the L-5A was a paper design only. The first production variant was the L-5 and the next production variant was the L-6B. This review is for the OY-1/OY-2/Sentinel Mk.II kit. The kit has 62 parts molded in gray styrene, 5 parts molded in clear styrene, and a set of “kabuki” tape canopy masks. The parts are generally well molded, but some of the mold parting lines are a bit heavy. Eight page color instructions illustrate 13 assembly steps along with decal placement and painting guides. There are some parts included that will not be used. These part's non use is only indicated in the instructions by their omission on the drawings of the sprue trees. The clear parts include the left and right halves of the canopy and three formation light lenses. The lenses are tiny and will demand careful handling. The cockpit is fairly well appointed with representation of the tubular framework, a slightly too wide pilot's seat, forward and aft bulkheads, a radio, an instrument panel with raised details and a decal overlay, a control stick, rudder pedals, and what appears to be a shelf for cargo or a litter patient. Additional cockpit detail is molded on the insides of both fuselage halves. The upper engine cover is molded as a separate piece, but the only engine details provided are a bulkhead molded integrally with the very front of the engine. The exterior surfaces feature restrained and subtle representations of the fabric covering. The main tires/wheels are molded in halves, but both open and covered wheels are provided. Three decal options are provided: a USMC OY-1 on Iwo Jima in 1945. (this aircraft has nose art and is finished on Olive drab and neutral gray), a USMC OY-2 in Korea in 1951. (this aircraft also has nose art and is finished in gloss sea blue), and a RAF Sentinel Mk. II in Burma in 1943 (this aircraft is finished in Dark Earth, Dark Green, and Medium Sea Gray). The decals have good color saturation and perfect registration. Finally, the kit's very attractive box art deserves mention.

Rob Hart

January 2025

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